10 Video Games That Saved Franchises From The Brink Of Doom

10. Devil May Cry 3

Franchise on the brink? The original Devil May Cry didn’t just kick down the door - it rewrote the rules. A gothic hack-and-slash drenched in anime flair and attitude, it gave players a charismatic demon hunter, razor-sharp combat, and enough style to launch a genre. Then came Devil May Cry 2 - and the wheels fell off.

Plagued by a rushed development and a new team, DMC2 felt like a shell of its predecessor. The combat was hilariously broken - you could win most fights by mashing the shoot button from across the room. Levels were oversized, empty, and visually dull. And Dante? The once-iconic wisecracker had all the personality of a piece of timber. Fans were confused, critics were cold, and the franchise looked like a one-hit wonder.

Saved by: Devil May Cry 3 

Capcom came out swinging. DMC3 wasn’t just a prequel - it was the peak of the franchise. Dante was back in full swaggering form, the combat was tight, punishing, and deep, and every boss fight felt like a rock opera with swords.

It re-established everything the series was supposed to be: flashy, challenging, and impossibly cool. Stylish ranks returned, the difficulty curve hit just right, and the series was saved from an early grave.